Critic Reviews

I truly enjoyed this game. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. The game is somewhere in between an engrossing graphic adventure and a hardcore Sims game. The linear storyline, inability to build your own house, and total lack of autonomy for the character under your control may turn diehard Sims fans away, while the number of mundane chores that are required to get through the game may repel those looking for a graphic adventure. To me, the game is a perfect mixture of both. It has a very engaging tongue-in-cheek storyline that advertises Maxis’ brand of humor while engrossing you in a number of, when you come down to it, mundane every-day tasks. I always loved the concepts that The Sims and family employed, but always wished for more focus. The Urbz offers this focus with the sacrifice of a few aspects of the The Sims games, while offering it in an authentic Sims-like package and showcasing the innovative qualities of the Nintendo DS.

Even then, for a handheld like the DS this is the perfect little obsessive compulsive game to keep you occupied for five minutes while you wait for a table, or as a game your girlfriend can swipe from you and figure out that touching is good. Either way, you win.

For all those gamers who delighted in Bustin' Out, The Urbs is simply more of the same in a different setting. There are some gameplay elements that differ from the 2003 release mostly concerning your character?s 'street cred' but the bulk of the game?s framework remains the same. What you are getting as a result though is a much more immersive, not to mention lengthier, gaming experience with added multiplayer to boot. We clocked the whole game at well over 20 hours which is quite impressive for a GBA title but do be aware that much of this is a result of your 'urb?s' constant need for guidance and pampering. It remains to be seen whether this slightly newer (and cooler) direction will find a new audience but judging by the sales figures of last year?s game I'm sure EA will be happy to hang on to their existing users. There's nothing much that?s really new then but it's still very enjoyable.

EA made a good attempt here. Although not making great use of the DS' Touch Screen, it's not a bad game in itself, and true Simulation fans will be right at home. At times it feels like it's a little bit cheesy to play, but overall it's a nice little game and a brilliant way to pass the time.

You know those teen movies where the obviously attractive girl is cleverly hidden behind baggy clothes and glasses until the popular chicks dress her up so everyone in school can appreciate her true beauty? With the handheld Urbz titles, it’s like the GBA version is the heroine at the beginning of the movie, and the DS version is the one at the end. Sure, all the ingredients for a rewarding experience are there from the start, but by the climactic conclusion on a whole new handheld system, the DS version walks away prettier, smoother, and more…um, interactive. The occasional control wonkyness is the one new negative, which is counteracted by the added minigames and location (Splicer Island), so I’m giving the versions the same score.

Last year, Game Boy Advance owners were introduced to The Sims series in an original production that spun out the whole virtual life idea into an original, portable-centric edition unique to handheld gamers. As successful as that game design was, Electronic Arts, Maxis, and Griptonite have pushed the game forward into a bigger and badder edition to accommodate the new direction the console games have taken. Enter The Urbz: Sims in the City.

Make no mistake The Urbz: Sims in the City is a good game but whether or not it's a good choice to pick up for your Nintendo DS will depend on a few things. If you own the GBA version of the game it's not worth it for the few extras on offer here. If you don't own the GBA version and have previously enjoyed the handheld versions of The Sims then you'll be pleased with what's on offer. The use of the touch screen is an unusual one but in some ways it does make sense because you can access the game menus without breaking away from the main game. The DS catalogue is pitifully small at the moment and if you're looking for a good game to keep you entertained for 30+ hours then The Urbz is well worth considering.

Sims in the City boasts fun gameplay, simple schematics and, overall, it can be very addictive. It's a rare occurrence for me to become totally engrossed by a videogame, but this one had me captivated from the get-go. From the individual missions to building and nurturing rep, The Urbz is quite the entertaining experience. Now, simulation games may not appeal to everyone, but gamers who enjoy this genre will discover a real gem with The Urbz.

The Urbz is a fun and addictive simulation game. It utilizes the DS touch screen feature well, although the full power of the DS’s resources isn’t fully expressed. While it may not be as in-depth as its console counterparts are, the DS version does a decent job of representing itself. It gives you a lengthy gameplay and plenty to do to keep you occupied. As far as being a launch game for the Nintendo DS, it seems that the game could have used a bit more time under the microscope, plus some added touch screen features.

Last year’s The Sims: Bustin’ Out surprised gamers with its deviation from the traditional Sims formula by giving players direct control over their sim, and even allowing them to select different dialogue options in conversations. However, with this latest iteration the series has lost its element of surprise, leaving a slow-paced and generally average rehash of the concepts that made the first one unique.

Given the unprecedented success of The Sims, the EA and Maxis franchise that's all about controlling every aspect of the lives of little virtual suburbanites, it's not much of a shock that the series eventually took it to the streets. Enter The Urbz: Sims in the City, which is a hybrid of The Sims' easy-to-grasp, addictive gameplay and kid-friendly urban-hipster sensibility. The Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions of the game, which are mostly identical, are actually full-on adventure role-playing games, featuring a lengthy quest, lots of characters to meet and interact with, and a number of fairly entertaining minigames. The game's mundane subject matter sometimes overwhelms the experience, since having to frequently rest, shower, and relieve yourself in the game is about as much fun as it sounds. But The Urbz nevertheless provides some surprising depth and lasting value.

The suburbanite Sims, weary of parakeets and doling out cups of sugar to the unruly youngsters, have decided to go out and get a life. Armed with only their status bars and work ethic, they brave the harsh grid of pitbulls and ruthless fashionistas in the big city in an effort to do it like The Jeffersons. Can they once again pull off the Hurculean task of bringing together the masses under one Synagogue of Simmish?

There is no doubt that The Urbz will please Sims fans but keep in mind this is still the GBA and as such you will only get a fraction of the replay value as that of the console version. Still, it's one big game that rivals many RPGs in size.

Don't let the idea of a completely superficial game where you go around your city trying to look 'cool' put you off looking into this title. There is significantly more to it than that, in fact it often takes the Mick out of itself which can be quite amusing as well. Definitely worth a look for fans of previous Sims games and newcomers alike.

It seems like it was just yesterday that I romped through and reviewed the Game Boy Advance version of The Urbz: Sims in the City, Maxis and EA's "revamp" of the non-PC Sims series. In fact, it was more like a couple of weeks ago that I did just that, but I once again had to take to the streets of Miniopolis on the brand-spanking-new Nintendo DS portable system, a piece of kit that touts creativity and uniqueness for a new generation of videogames. What did we get? The same damn game as the GBA design, only this time it's using two screens instead of one. By itself it's still a good game and very fulfilling if you haven't even picked up the "other version." It's just a little underwhelming to get nearly the same experience on a system that's supposed to offer gamers so much more.

I must say that I was apprehensive when I first started playing this title. The complexity was a turn off at first, but I learned my way around the game in no time. The subtle approach that the storyline takes will ease you in throughout time. I have to say that I was quite addicted to this game, and with time and experience you will be too.

If you're all about sim games, you won't be disappointed by The Urbz because it's a pretty involving game that'll keep you busy while on the go. However, the constant need to micromanage my character was a huge turn off, and EA's horrible use of the touch screen doesn't help this title achieve greatness.

Those who are fans should find it entertaining but a little less exciting than other games in the series. It has some interesting things to play around with. I especially liked the DNA splicing and the pets. Overall, I enjoyed the game. For me it's one of those games that you play for a while then save and go back to later.

Of course, that's what Sims fans want anyway. Easy to pick up and play titles that are family friendly. That definitely fits this version of the game. However, that doesn't make it a good one. This desperately needed more tweaking to cut down on the aggravation, and then those missions might not be as off-putting.

The Urbz: Sims in the City for the Nintendo DS is the latest in EA's Sims line, following in the vein of Sims Bustin' Out. The Sims series is less of a series of games and more of a series of addiction, the phenomenon being hard to comprehend. All of the Maxis simulation titles (SimCity, SimAnt, whatever) have had some sick level of addiction to them, but the Sims' slice of that very lucrative pie has been the worst of the bunch, being some cross between a soap opera and voyeurism. Urbz is significantly horrible in this regard.

The Urbz has a problem. You see, The Urbz wants to be PC classic The Sims. That is: slow-paced and packed with detail-oriented micromanagement. At the same time, though, it also wants to be a console game experience. That is: faster-paced, streamlined and goal-oriented.

So the question then, is which one (should you be so desperate to buy an Urbz game) do we recommend you go for? Well, given that the games are so similar, and the SP is significantly smaller and cheaper machine, we suggest you go for the GBA version...

The Urbz for the DS is a perfect example of what lazy game publishers will urge their developers to crank out in order to make a profit at a system's launch. In a vacuum, one would definitely be able to appreciate the charm of The Urbz, and have some fun running about, peeing in toilets, working silly little jobs, and making friends with all the scenester crowds to be found in Miniopolis. Of course, you can do all this on the Game Boy Advance as well. If you’re looking for a game that will showcase what your neat little new system can do, you’re better off looking somewhere else.

Fans of The Sims series will likely find what they are looking for in The Urbz. Anybody else looking for a new, fun experience on the Nintendo DS would do best to look else ware, as The Urbz delivers nothing but tedious micromanagement.

I’m pretty disappointed in this game. The Urbz: Sims in the City is a very boring experience. This game is filled with tedious and repetitive goals, bad visuals, annoying motives to make your Sim happy, and just too little to do. Even though the game takes maybe over than 20 hours to complete, I had no motivation. I wanted nothing to do with the game after playing the game for maybe 4 hours. It was just too boring to continue. The Urbz: Sims in the City is a poor excuse for a DS game. I’m sure this title will be ignored for years to come.

The Urbz: Sims in the City is a deep life simulation that's full of so many things to do you'll likely get lost for hours. However, as a DS launch title it's pretty lackluster, and it doesn't make good use of the system's abilities. That's not necessarily a strike against the game, but the fact that it's basically the GBA version with some lame touch screen stuff keeps it from being a must buy.

In the end, my trip to Miniopolis seemed pretty uneventful. There hasn't been a lot of improvement since Bustin' Out, and it's painfully clear. I was hoping to have a little more customization, a few extra options, and basically just a little more of what The Urbz brought to the home consoles. Unfortunately, for a game centering on being "cool," The Urbz on the GBA winds up being a victim of its own mediocrity.